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Who do you feel is the greatest classical composer?
- Thread starter StephenCampbell
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Is Rap considered Classical Music?
Check out Epic Rap Battles: Beethoven vs. Bieber
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcTLJ692F70
Check out Epic Rap Battles: Beethoven vs. Bieber
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcTLJ692F70
The "classical" composers of the 21st century are missing from the list... but then being dead seems to be a prerequisite for being regarded as a composer of "serious" music.
Personally, I hope that tradition changes in the postdigital era. Perhaps sometime in the future, we'll actually enjoy looking at the trees and the forest.
Personally, I hope that tradition changes in the postdigital era. Perhaps sometime in the future, we'll actually enjoy looking at the trees and the forest.
Chopin and Rachmaninoff hurt my ears. 
For raw talent, I will drink the mainstream Kool-aid and suggest Mozart and Beethoven. Beethoven because of his slightly tortured life, during which he composed some of the most beautiful pieces of ever written, and Mozart who had brilliantly but barely hit his stride when he died. I personally very much like Fauré and Tchaikovsky, although I don't have a favourite composer - there are select pieces that I am crazy over but don't care for the rest of their music....
If we're talking Opera, I'd go with Rossini and Bizet.
For raw talent, I will drink the mainstream Kool-aid and suggest Mozart and Beethoven. Beethoven because of his slightly tortured life, during which he composed some of the most beautiful pieces of ever written, and Mozart who had brilliantly but barely hit his stride when he died. I personally very much like Fauré and Tchaikovsky, although I don't have a favourite composer - there are select pieces that I am crazy over but don't care for the rest of their music....
If we're talking Opera, I'd go with Rossini and Bizet.
I'm a Chopin lover, me. His Mazurka's are immense. Played one for grade 6 piano and am playing one for my grade 7 next saturday.
If you're talking Baroque period, Johann Sebestian Bach wins hands down. And that's despite the poor treatment he got from his patrons.
Interestingly, in his heyday Joseph Haydn was FAR more famous than his contemporaries, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Indeed, it was far more likely at the end of the 18th Century for musicians to play the music of Haydn in the salons of wealthy patrons.
Interestingly, in his heyday Joseph Haydn was FAR more famous than his contemporaries, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven. Indeed, it was far more likely at the end of the 18th Century for musicians to play the music of Haydn in the salons of wealthy patrons.
Personally I like his Nocturnes. I can understand the appeal of Beethoven and Mozart for their orchestra pieces. But Chopin wrote mostly for the piano and his piano solos were some of the best. Non piano players will probably rank him lower though.
No denying his nocturnes are also incredible. I'm partway through learning no.9.
Mostly deaf. And actually it's a bit easier to understand if you think about it this way: if you went deaf today, would you still be able to speak? Writing music is much akin to speaking a different language, so while it's remarkable he was still able to compose music after losing his hearing, he had for years already been doing it and more or less already knew what he was doing.
Here's the thing: Beethoven during his lifetime wasn't as famous as people think--it was only well after his passing that people appreciated his great achievements, especially the ground-greaking nine symphonies he wrote.
But during his lifetime, Joseph Haydn was enormously popular--by the last two decades of the 18th Century, musicians who played for wealthy patrons like the nobility in Europe frequently played the works of Haydn. And Haydn enormously influenced both Mozart and Beethoven, too.
Way too many people jumping on the bandwagon with the big names. I challenge you guys to listen to some music and do some research about some of the names you are less than familiar with. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
Ok, I'll get back to you in a year or two after I've found the time to adequately research composers that aren't on the list.
The poll is about your favorite, which, by definition, has to be one you're familiar with, um, now.
The poll is about your favorite, which, by definition, has to be one you're familiar with, um, now.
"Greatest" != "Favorite"
I didn't say anything about names "not on the list." I was more referring to people who say Mozart and Beethoven, because they may not know anyone else. Many names on that list have had a profoundly greater effect on the genre - both earlier in time period and later.
Anyone that really does listen to "classical" music on a regular basis - I still challenge you! Seek out composers that are not your norm. I promise you really will be pleasantly surprised.
I didn't say anything about names "not on the list." I was more referring to people who say Mozart and Beethoven, because they may not know anyone else. Many names on that list have had a profoundly greater effect on the genre - both earlier in time period and later.
Anyone that really does listen to "classical" music on a regular basis - I still challenge you! Seek out composers that are not your norm. I promise you really will be pleasantly surprised.
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The gay guy was no slouch either, but I voted for Bach.
Being a lowly church organist, and having more kids than should be allowed, he managed to crank out a massive amount of excellent music.
"Greatest" != "Favorite"
Anyone that really does listen to "classical" music on a regular basis - I still challenge you! Seek out composers that are not your norm. I promise you really will be pleasantly surprised.
No, "who do you feel is the Greatest" = Favorite
You are absolutely correct about finding lots of great music from "other" composers, especially for those with limited exposure to the genre. However, for the purposes of this poll, the response has to be of the moment. That is the point I was tying to make. You were "calling out" people for "settling" for the well-known composers. I'm just saying that many people only know those composers, and to participate here, that's what they have to go with. Did I explain that better?
It's not an issue of "feeling" for me; it's an issue of "knowing" that Brahms is the greatest classical composer without question. Anyone who thinks differently is wrong.
Mozart had a prolific career with over 40 symphonies, numerous sonatas, minutes, operas and requirems. He did it all. Not a single work of his was a stinker. He's not my favorite by any stretch, but his greatness speaks for itself. Maybe Kanye West can convince you otherwise.
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Challenge yourself - go outside the box. Get away from the big names! You REALLY will be surprised. Shostakovich, Stravinsky, even John Cage - absolutely brilliant. That's just a few names that I can pick out right now.
Check out Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. The premiere caused a riot - not kidding.
Shostakovich, find The Nose. He wrote an opera about a man's nose that jumps off his face and lives its own life!
Find a live performance of John Cage's 4'33". THAT is a game changer
Check out Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. The premiere caused a riot - not kidding.
Shostakovich, find The Nose. He wrote an opera about a man's nose that jumps off his face and lives its own life!
Find a live performance of John Cage's 4'33". THAT is a game changer
My personal favourite would be Mozart - but I'm voting for Bach.
I just feel Bach brought an amazing intelligence and playfulness to music and musicology that few other composers have matched.
I just feel Bach brought an amazing intelligence and playfulness to music and musicology that few other composers have matched.
